What part of Florida do you recommend

[Laka]

Our golfing friends want us to go to Florida in early April next year. We are average golfers, 50 ish and hope to find courses there that suits our skill level.

Our friends want to have near to beaches and outlets, good courses should then be within reasonablefdistance from the coast, furthermore its an bonus if there is near to restaurants and such stuff.

Do you have recommendations for which part of Florida we should look into?:thup:

 

[Val]

Not looking for much then

An hour to the beach, 200+ golf courses within a half hour drive and shopping and eating galore then central orlando is where you want to be.

 

[North Mimms]

Our golfing friends want us to go to Florida in early April next year. We are average golfers, 50 ish and hope to find courses there that suits our skill level.

Our friends want to have near to beaches and outlets, good courses should then be within reasonablefdistance from the coast, furthermore its an bonus if there is near to restaurants and such stuff.

Do you have recommendations for which part of Florida we should look into?:thup:

We spent a month in February in St Augustine this year- north east coast, just south of Jacksonville.
To be honest, in Feb it was a bit too cold being that far north, but Florida can get uncomfortably hot by May.

For April, I think it would be perfect.
The golf is a LOT cheaper than Orlando area, especially if you are flexible and use last minute style booking websites.
There are two mega outlet malls on the interstate outside st Aug.
The city itself is lovely- really old (Spanish settlement) with real historic buildings, and loads of lovely places to eat.
Beaches galore.
A bit of a neglected gem I think.

(Don't bother with 2 courses at World Golf Village by Hall of Fame) Vastly overpriced

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Highly recommend the Naples area. Lots of courses, accomodation and places to go. The gulf coast is lovely and not as susceptible to the wind which you'll find on the atlantic coast. Nice drive from Miami but a bit more of a hike from Orlando/central Florida airports - well worth it though.

 

[matt71]

Well if this helps? Me and the boss stay on international drive and we have access to around 100 golf clubs with 30-45 mins drive (some are only a few miles away) and even though I am pretty bobbins at golf find them all great fun. can recommend loads too you if you want to know. Regarding coastal not as many as mainland as we are planning to try out the Clearwater area for game this year and not as much choice.

 

[Macster]

Orlando - Big, Brash, Commercial, Micket Mouse et al, and lots of Tourists. That said, LOTDS of Golf Courses.

Naples - Great Beaches, Generally more expensive, very 'select' area and lots of money down there. Lovely Lod Town, easy to park and walk in the old centre. Good Golf too, but again, I'd imagine more expensive.

Clearwater/St Pete's : Nice area too, and only just over an hour from Orlando if you wanted the Parks. GREAT beaches, - huge !
Lots of Golf too.

West Coast Florida is where its at in my opinion, you can walk for miles along the beaches.

Shopping - doesnt matter where in FL you go, there's Malls,........and Malls.........and Malls........ perhaps more 'Outlet' shopping in Orlando, but its a helluva lot busier and spread out.........I got sick of the driving up there.

Other lovely Gulf Coast vacation spots......Longboat Key, Sarisota, Sanibel Island, Marco Island

Miami - dont particularly care for Miami, and South Beach is just 'rough'. but Ft Lauderdale is nice.

Shout if you want more, I've been in the Travel Trade for 30+ years.......

 

[quinn]

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Our golfing friends want us to go to Florida in early April next year. We are average golfers, 50 ish and hope to find courses there that suits our skill level.

Our friends want to have near to beaches and outlets, good courses should then be within reasonablefdistance from the coast, furthermore its an bonus if there is near to restaurants and such stuff.

Do you have recommendations for which part of Florida we should look into?:thup:

See you there, I'm going on the 3rd April for 3 weeks..we always stay in davenport on highland reserve.Theres a golf course on your doorstep champions gate is 10 mins away( playing it next year) to be honest you can't go wrong anywhere you stay there's golf courses everywhere..most the good shopping malls are on international drive..away from the golf and the tourist traps you have to go to anna Marie Island..stunning beaches and quiet..there's a restaurant right next to the beach...wherever you go you'll love it..can't wait for April

 

[CMAC]

Orlando - Big, Brash, Commercial, Micket Mouse et al, and lots of Tourists. That said, LOTDS of Golf Courses.

Naples - Great Beaches, Generally more expensive, very 'select' area and lots of money down there. Lovely Lod Town, easy to park and walk in the old centre. Good Golf too, but again, I'd imagine more expensive.

Clearwater/St Pete's : Nice area too, and only just over an hour from Orlando if you wanted the Parks. GREAT beaches, - huge !
Lots of Golf too.

West Coast Florida is where its at in my opinion, you can walk for miles along the beaches.

Shopping - doesnt matter where in FL you go, there's Malls,........and Malls.........and Malls........ perhaps more 'Outlet' shopping in Orlando, but its a helluva lot busier and spread out.........I got sick of the driving up there.

Other lovely Gulf Coast vacation spots......Longboat Key, Sarisota, Sanibel Island, Marco Island

Miami - dont particularly care for Miami, and South Beach is just 'rough'. but Ft Lauderdale is nice.

Shout if you want more, I've been in the Travel Trade for 30+ years.......

We have friends who have a place in Naples, nothing but very high praise from them, just takes a lot longer to get there from Orlando.

Are you still in travel trade? looking for tips of getting the best deals for going Virgin to Disney/Universal then a golf resort after around October this year?

 

[Maninblack4612]

http://www.sanctuaryridgegc.com/ Recommended by a mate of mine who lives in Florida.

 

[matt71]

See you there, I'm going on the 3rd April for 3 weeks..we always stay in davenport on highland reserve.Theres a golf course on your doorstep champions gate is 10 mins away( playing it next year) to be honest you can't go wrong anywhere you stay there's golf courses everywhere..most the good shopping malls are on international drive..away from the golf and the tourist traps you have to go to anna Marie Island..stunning beaches and quiet..there's a restaurant right next to the beach...wherever you go you'll love it..can't wait for April

Championsgate is ruddy awesome course, the international is quite tough while the national is more parkland but great fun!

 

[srixon 1]

Fort Myers gets my vote. South west Florida and lots to see and do. Some great little boat trips to be had from Captiva Island. Some good game fishing too if you like that sort of thing. Definitely beats Orlando unless you are going for the theme parks.

 

[Bratty]

I much preferred Naples to Orlando as a relaxing venue. If you're not bothered about theme parks and chain restaurants, Naples is lovely. Plus it has the nicest course I've ever played, Old Corkscrew. It's a Nicklaus designed course in a nature reserve. I reviewed it on here a few years ago.

 

[davidy233]

Fort Myers gets my vote. South west Florida and lots to see and do. Some great little boat trips to be had from Captiva Island. Some good game fishing too if you like that sort of thing. Definitely beats Orlando unless you are going for the theme parks.

Not sure about April but if anyone is going to Florida in January then Fort Myers and Naples would get my vote - some lovely courses and great beaches and a fair bit warmer than Central Florida

Enjoyed going to Orlando with the kids a couple of times but wouldn't go back to anywhere where it's wall to wall British tourists now - South and South West Florida are much nicer

 

[Roops]

Another vote for Naples. If you can rent a condo, you have the best of both worlds, you can suit yourself food wise or eat out. Dozens of courses to choose from, and if the Condo is on one of the gated communities, the golf is normally included in the price. Treat yourself to a trip to Goodland and Stan's Idle Hour, old bar perched on the edge of the everglades.

 

[Hovisbap]

Yet another vote for Naples - we are going again in November for a month, renting a condo on a beautiful course called Naples Heritage. Played there last year for the first time and loved it, much prefer Naples to Orlando.

 

[Bratty]

Yet another vote for Naples - we are going again in November for a month, renting a condo on a beautiful course called Naples Heritage. Played there last year for the first time and loved it, much prefer Naples to Orlando.

If you've not played Old Corkscrew, I thoroughly recommend it, and Raptor Bay is well worth a look. Avoid Spanish Wells.

 

[Hovisbap]

If you've not played Old Corkscrew, I thoroughly recommend it, and Raptor Bay is well worth a look. Avoid Spanish Wells.

They are both reciprocal clubs with NH, but unfortunately the reciprocal scheme only runs to 31st October. Might get a round or two in though........

 

[Bratty]

They are both reciprocal clubs with NH, but unfortunately the reciprocal scheme only runs to 31st October. Might get a round or two in though........

In my experience, if you ask in the USA, you generally get!

 

[quinn]

Championsgate is ruddy awesome course, the international is quite tough while the national is more parkland but great fun!

Looks like I'll have to play both then

 

[macca64]

I wouldn't, last time I went, they locked me up for a hour in the airport coz I got funny name, knobs!!!!!(only my opinion)